Highlands University was awarded a new $290,000 USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant aimed at increasing student interest in science majors and professions.

“The primary purpose of this new grant is to motivate students to major in science, technology, engineering, agriculture and math — the STEAM disciplines,” said Edward Martinez, a Highlands University natural resources professor who is the project administrator for the grant.

The Las Vegas Arts Council celebrates creative tinwork in its first Northern New Mexico Tin Art-Contemporary and Traditional Show in progress through Nov. 29 at the arts council gallery, 140 Bridge St.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, or by appointment.

Everyone is invited to a public reception with refreshments and an ongoing tin holiday ornament sale to benefit the council, from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13. The arts council will also host a tin ornament workshop Saturday, Dec. 4.

New Mexico Highlands’ women’s soccer team will play on after earning its first-ever NCAA Division II tournament selection.

Highlands (12-6-2 overall, 10-3-2 in league play) will play Regis (14-4-1) in a rematch of their Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference semifinal. The match will take place at noon Friday in Winona, Minn.
The NCAA announced the 48-team field Monday night.

Mora’s cross country teams were one of the pleasant surprises of this past weekend’s state championships.

Pecos’ Antonio Varela, on the other hand, didn’t surprise too many people.

Varela, a juniorstandout for the Panthers all season, jammed to a time of 16:05, which not only won him his second consecutive individual title among Class 1A-2A boys, it also was the fastest of any classification.

The meet was held along with those for all classes on Saturday in Rio Rancho.

It’s good to see Las Vegas City school officials grappling with the problem of bullying. Not only are they taking the matter seriously, but they’re being open about how the problem exists, persists and must be addressed.

Superintendent Richard Romero is right to make it a top priority. Bullying isn’t a “kids will be kids” issue; at best, it’s a form of harassment, at worst it’s, well, terrorism. In a few cases, it even results in someone’s death.

Ah, the best-laid plans of mice and men ... We wanted to provide an accurate list of movies you might enjoy seeing, but the poofreader took a few days off, and the typist got a bit careless. Nevertheless, let’s see how many movie titles you can ferret out of these descriptions.

Submit your calendar items and notices to dgiuliani@lasvegasoptic.com.
• The Student Nurses Association of Luna Community College is running its first Children’s Coat Drive. Donations of any unwanted new or used coats are being accepted at the Luna Allied Health Building, the Student Services Support Center and at the fiscal office until Nov. 30. Donation will be given to local children. For more information, call 426-5426.